Loobe



J. LUCAS April 5, 1927.

LOOM

Filed May '7. 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS p wm vm folirsrs A r'l 5,1927. p I J LUCAS 1,623,258

LOOM

Filed May 7. m4 '1 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS April 5,1927. 1,623,258

J. LUCAS LOOM Filed y 7. 1924 'v Shets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOH ATTORNEYS Q E E E A AIL p I! 7 Sheets- Sheet .5

. ATTORNEYS J. LUCAS April 5 1927.

LOOM

Filed May 7. 1924 ,1. LucAs LOOM April 5,1927. 1,623,258

Filed May 7. 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 JT L w INVENTOR wnwsss Jamar/mm 41045 A TTORNE Y8 J. LUCAS LOOM '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May '7. 1924 INVENTOR Jam mm A was BY flz/k'm/f lwM' ATTOHNEYs Patented Apr. 5, 1227.

enirsn srarss Leeann earner JONATHAN LUCAS, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOB T9 LUCAS-LAIVIBORN LOOIVI COREORATIQIJ, OF NEVJ YORK, N. 33"., A QQBPOLRATIOH (3F NEW YORK.

LOOM.

Application filed May 7, 1924. SeriaI No. 711,581.

My invention relates to looms and has for its objectto provide aloom of novel construction and including an eilicient shuttle ope 'ating mechanism constructed and arranged to actuate the shuttle, throughout all of its operative movements, in a novel and improved manner. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel coupling mechanism whereby the shuttle is automatically connected with and disconnected from the shuttle operating mechanism in a novel and efiicient manner the proper points in the operative paths of said shuttle. Other more specific objects of the invention will appear from the description l'iereinafter, the features of novelty being pointed out in the claims.

The present application is, in part, a continuation of another application filed by me in the United States Patent ()llice on F ebruary 13, 1922, SerialNo.-536,258.

In the accon'ipanying drawings, which illustrate examples of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a loom embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the mechanism in a different position from that of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section of the shuttle and parts of its operat ing mechanism; Fig. is a fragmentary front view ofone end of the loom; Fig. 6

is a fragmentary front view illustrating an automatic safety stop arrangement forming part of the invention; 7 is a plan view of the shuttle shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation showing another form of the invention; Fig. 9 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 16 is a section on the line 1()10 of Fig. 8; 11 is diagrammatic view illustrating still another form of the invention; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of another form of shuttle carriers; 13 is a. side elevation thereof; Fig. 141 is a detail sectional elevation; Fig. is a cross-section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14- and Fig. 16 is a plan view illustrating another arrangement of the form shown in Fig. 12.

The loom comprises a support 15 of conventional construction and suitable form provided with guiding devices upon which the reciprocating elements of the shuttle operating mechanism are guided in their operative movements. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the guiding devices referred to consist of a plurality of rollers 16 and 16 arranged in spaced upper and lower series and journalled upon suitable portions of the frame 15. The rollers 16 and 16 in each series are located at spaced intervals, throughout the paths traversed by the shuttle in its operative movements, and serve as guides for travelling carriers 17 and 17 which are arranged to be reciprocated upon the rollers 16 and beneath the rollers 16 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The mechanism whereby the arriers l7 and 17" are moved toward and away from each other from one extreme position to another may be of any suitable type and, as shown, may comprise a pair of rocking arms 18 pivoted at 19 upon the frame 15 and connected, at one end by means of links 20, with the carriers 17 and 17 respectively. The other ends of said rocking arms 18 are connected, by means of connecting rods 21 with oppositely disposed cranks 22 forming part of a crank-shaft 23 journalled on the frame 15. The shaft 23 carries a pinion 24 which meshes with a gear 25 fixed upon a counter-shaft 26 also journalled on the frame 15' and provided with a. gear 27, which may he a duplicate of the gear 25 as shown in Fig. 2 the gear 27 in turn meshes with a pinion 28 carried by a stud shaft 29 which is rotatably mounted upon the frame 15. The stud shaft 29 may be driven in any convenient manner as by means of a belt 30 and a pulley 31 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The carriers 17 and '17 are each provided with a supporting means for the shuttle, which means as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4-, may comprise fingers and 32 located in pairs respectively upon said carriages 17 and 17'and projecting toward each other. In the preferred coi'istruction, the fingers 32 are located in a plane different from that in which the fingers 82 are positioned, and said fingers are of such length as to overlap in the extreme innermost positions of the carriers 17 and 17; that is. as shown in Fig. 1 of the illustrated examples, the fingers 32 may be arranged in a lower plane than the fingers 32 so as to be capable of projecting beneath the same. Each pair of fingers 32 and 32 is constructed ant arranged to extend along opposite sides of carried alternately by the fingers and 32* and conveyed thereby over its operative paths. Loom structures are known in which shuttle carrying means are included which have devices equivalent to the fingers of the present invention, but in such constructions said devices are located in the same operative planes and approach each other very closely or even abut in the inner positions of said shuttle carrying means. Such devices generally are provided with grooves or their equivalent into which the shuttle is arranged to fit and said devices are of a length which must be somewhat less than the length of the shuttle. A major part of the latter thus projects beyond the devices or fingers when carried thereby and consequently is unsupported; it is therefore necessary to provide a reasonably snug fit between the grooves of the fingers and the shuttle in order that, as the carrying means approach each other, said shuttle may be maintained in position to be properly presented for registration with the grooves of the fingers of the car- 'rying means to which it is to be transferred. If, because of wear or from any other cause. looseness should develop between said grooves and the shuttle, the projecting end of the shuttle will drop and thereby tilt the latter so that the shuttle will no' longer be in registry with the grooves of the approaching fingers of the carrying means towhich transfer is to be made and damage to the mechanism will result. This is impossible in the present construction in which each pair of fingers because of their location indifferent planes. may be made sufiiciently long to extend along said shuttle to any desired distance beyond the transverse centre thereof. The shuttle is thus positively supported at all times throughout its extent and is incapable of tilting so that the transfer from one set of fingers to the other is effected in an efficient manner and without danger of injury to the mechanism. The shuttle 33 of the present loom may be of any approved construction and includes transverse walls provided with recesses in which the trunnions 36 of the bobbin 37 are rotatably and removahlv accommodated.

Ifnecessary or desirable, suitable means may be included for maintaining the bobbin 37' against free rotation; as shown, such means may comprise leaf springs 38 which are fixed in said recesses 35 and bearagainst shuttle 33 is positively coupled toior con nected with the shuttle actuating means I and disconnected therefrom at predetermined points in its operative paths. The means whereby this positive connectionbetween the shuttle and its operating mechanism is maintained and the disconnection is brought about may be of different structural characteristics several forms shown in the illustrated examples.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the coupling or connecting means consists of slides 40 and 40 vertically movable in upright guides 41- and 41 car ried respectively by the carriers 17 and 17. said slides being provided with inclined end surfaces 42 and 424 as illustrated in Fig. i for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter. The slides 40 and 40 carry coupling members which, as shown in Fig. 4, be in the form of hooks 43 and 43 projecting outwardly from said slides and each having an inclined cam surface 44.

The hooks 43 and 43 are constructed and arranged to cooperate respectively with locking-latches 4:5 and 45 located at opposite ends of the shuttle 33 and vertically movable in recessed crossmembers 46 thereof; the lockingdatehes 45 and 45 in their operative positions rest upon lugs 47 forming part of the cross-members 46. said latches being returned to and yieldingly maintained in said operative positions by means of springs 38 as shown in Fig. 4-. For the purpose of neutralizing the impact forces developed when the connecting means 7 are brought into coupling engagement with the shuttle 33, the latter may be provided with cushions 4-9 and 4-9 adapted respectively to engage the cross-members 46 as illustrated in Fig. 4; the cushions 49 and 49 may be of any suitable material such cork, rubber and the like.

The slides it) and 40 are each provided with recesses 50 and 50 for the reception respectively of locking bolts 51 and 51 slidably mounted upon the guides 41 and 41 as shown in Fig. 1, the recesses and bolts cooperating to lock the slides in a raised position for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter. The bolts 51 and 51 are being lll) llfi pivotally connected respectively with rocking members 52 and 52 fulcrumed at upon lugs el suitably located upon the guides 41 and +11 as illustrated in Fig. t: the rocking members 52 and 52 are acted upon by springs 5 t in such a manner that the bolts 51 and 51 constantly tend to move toward the slides l0 and l so that the moment a recess comes into registry with a bolt, the latter will immediately snap into the same as will be clearly explained hereinafter. The rocking members 52 and 52 are provided respectively with bumpers and 55 arrangedfor cooperation with a tripping means for tripping the bolts in a manner to release the slides 40 and 40 In the illustrated example, the tripping means referred to comprises projections 56 and; 56 forming, part of tri 'iping frames 57 and 57 slidable vertically in guides 58 located at opposite sides of the support 15 as shown in Fig. 1. In addition to the projections 56, which cooperate ith the bumpers 55 and 55, the trippin -frames 5. and 5? are provided with upper arms 59 and 5 respectively which project from said frames toward the shuttle 33 and are each provided with lugs 60 and 6m constructed and ararnged to engage the inclined ends 42 of the slides 40 and 40 in the ope 'ation of the loom. The tripping means further includes members 61 and 61 located respectively in frontof the free ends of the arms 59 and 59, in the normal position of the parts, and preferably having rounder corners as indicated at 62; these members 61 and 61 are carried by leaf springs (33 secured upon the frames 57 and 5? and consequently are capable of yielding upwardly for cooperation with the inclined ids 42 of the slides in and 40. Lower arms 64 and 64? projectfrom the trippin; frames 57 and 57 toward the shuttle and are arranged for cooperation with the lower inclined ends d2 of the slides l0 and 40. the intended cooperation being facilitated by rounding or bcmlling the corners of said arms 64 and 6% as indicated at The arrangement is such that the tripping-frames 57 and 57 are raised and lowered in alternate sequence and in syn chronism with the other elements of the loom with which they cooperate. This is accomplished by'means of suitable mechanism which, as shown in the illustrated example. may comprise links 66 and 66 pivotally connected at one end with the frames and 57 respectively and the other end with bell-cranl levers 67 and 67 pivoted upon the frame 15. The bell-crank levers (S 7 and 67 in turn are pivotally connected with rods 68 and 68 which are operated by eccentric 69 and 69 mounted in reversed relation upon the shaft 2 as shown n Fig. 1.

The loom also includes two sets of har ness of any customary type and consisting for instance of frames 70 in which the usual heddle wires are supported; .the latter carry the warp threads which are arranged in two sets 71 and T2 in the well known manner and are manipulated by the harness so as to provide the usual shed through which the shuttle 33 passes. The frames 70 are carried by rods 73 connected together in pairs by means of c os -.nembers H and properly supported for vertical reciprocation in the loom. In the illustrated example, the mechanism whereby this reciprocation is effected comprises a double-faced cam 75 having duplicate cam grooves 76 arranged in reversed relation to each other upon its opposite faces; these grooves '76 accon'nnodate rollers 77 rotatably mounted upon the crossmembers 4. and serving; to transmit the mechanical movements of said cam 75 to the rods 74 and the frames 70 carried there by. As shown in Fig. l the arrangement is such that the 'am grooves 73 will raise and. lower the frames '70 n alternate sequence so as to reverse the positions of the two sets of warp threads 71 and 71 2 in the customary manner.

The latter pass from the warp-lwmm Tn? over a stationary guide bar 79 to the heddlewires of the harness frames 70. the warpbeam 78 being iournalled in suitable bearings on the main frame 15 and b in g provided with a wheel 80 and a weighted band 81 which act as a braking means to maintain the warp-threads 72 under a proper tension. The woven fabric 72 passes over a stationary guide rod 852 and over a feed roll 83 which is journalled in beari on the main frame 15 and is positively driven. by means of a gear wheel Bl and a worm operatively connected with a train of nearing 86: the latter, in turn. is dr ven by means of a gear 87 fixed upon the dr've shaft 23. From the feed roll 83 the fabric 2 passes to a cloth roll 88 rotatably mounted, in bearings 89. beneath said feed roll 83 and driven by means of a belt 90 and pulleys 91 and 92. the latter beinsr connected respectively with the feed roll 83 and the cloth roll 88 as shown in Fig.

. In addition to the parts so far described, the loom includes a beater 93 having the customary reeds between which the two sets of warp threads 71 and 72 pass in the we :nown way; the beater 93 s fixed upon a rock-shaft 94 journalled in bearings 95 upon the main frame 15 and is capable of being oscillated to pack the filler threads which have been placed in position by the shuttle 2-33. For the purpose of operating the hen 93, the roclcshaft 94- is provided with an arm 96 having a pin 97 at its free end arranaed to fit into the forked end 98 of a lever 99: the latter is fulcrumed at 100 upon the main frame 15 and has its opposite forked end. 101 in connection with a frame 102 vertical- 1y slidable in guides 103 on the main frame 15. The frame 102 carries a roller 104; which projects into the groove 105 of an operating; cam 106, the latter being fixed upon the shaft 23 as shown in Figs, 1' and 2.

In operation, power is applied to the loom by means of the belt 30 and pulley 31 which brings about a rotation of the shafts 29 and 26 through the medium of the vgears 28 and 27 and consequently drives the cam '75; the latter, by means of its grooves 76 and the rollers 77, causes a vertical reciprocation of the two sets of harness 70 in alternate sequence and. thus manipulates the two sets of warp threads 71 and 72 to provide the shed for the shuttle 33 to pass through as will be set forth hereinafter.

Atthe same time. the gears 25 and 24 drive the shaft 23 and the gear 87 and consequently operate the train of gearing- 86 and the worm 85 which in turn drives the gear 84, the feed roll 83 and the cloth roll 88; the latter serves to roll up the woven fabric as it is finished. as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. During the operation of the loom, the speed of rotation of the feed roll 83 is constant, as its diameter never changes; because of the fact. however. that the diameter of the cloth roll 88 gradually increases so that variations in the surface speed take place. the belt 90 is arranged to slip or the same result is attained by arranging the pulley 92 so that it may slip on its shaft. A most efficient and uniform rolling of the woven fabric is thereby provided for.

The actuation of the shaft 23 also causes an operation of the cam 106 which. through the medium of its groove 105 and the roller 104., brings about a vertical reciprocation of the frame 102 and consequently arocking of the lever 99; the latter in turn rocks the lever {)6'and shaft 945 and thereby swings the beater 93 from the solid line position shown in Fig. toward the dotted line position therein. This operation of the beater carries the reeds between the warp threads and packs the filler threads which have previously been placed in pos tion by the shuttle 33 in the manner to he clearly set forth hereinafter. The movements of the beater commence only after the shuttle has completed its movement and the filler thread has been fully laid.

As the shaft is driven in the indicated manner, the oppositely disposed cranks 22 will be operated. and by alternately pulling and pushing; upon the connecting: rods 21. will. rock the arms 18; this will alternately push and pull the links 20 and consequently will move the carriers 17 and 17 toward and away from each otaer on the rollers 16 from extreme outer positions to extreme inner positions and vice versa. The actuation of the shaft 26, which takes place at the same time will operate the oppositely disposed eccentrics and thereby, through the medium of the'rods (38 and 68 will rock the bell crank levers 67 and 67 and alternately raise and lower the links 06 and 66; this causes the tripping frames 57 and 57,to be vertically rcciprocated in the guides 58, it being understood that the aforesaid reciprocation of said frames 57 and 57 is in alternate sequence. 7

The further description of the operation will be started with the parts in the position illustrated. in Fig. 1 in which the tripping frames 57 and 57 occupy intermediate positions and the carriers 17 and 17 with heir associated elements are in their innermost positions. It will be noted that the slide is locked in its raised position by reason of the fact that the bolt 51 projects into the recess and that the bumper is located in an outer position; at the same time, the hook 43 of the slide 40 is engaged with the loclting'datch 45 so that the shuttle 33 is coupled to or connected with the carriape 17. At this stage. the slide 4-0 is in its lowest-position in which its hook 43 is beneath and. disconnected from the locking-latch 45, the bumper 55 being; located in an inner position. As the operation of the mechanism now continues the carriers 7 17 and 17 will be caused to travel away from each other. on the rollers 16 and will each be brought to their extreme outer positions as shown in Fig. 3; because of the connection of the shutt e with the carrier 1.7, said shuttle will, by this operation of the parts. be drawn from the central position shown in Fig. 1 toward the left to the extreme outer position illustrated in Fig. 3. During these movements of the carriers 17 and 17 and the shuttle 33, the tripping frame 57 has been moved downwardly and the frame 57 upwardly to the positions shown in Fig. 3. it being understood that the described changes in the positions of said tripping frames are completed before the carriers 17 and 1.7 reach the extreme outer positions. In this way the projection 56 of the frame 57 is shifted into the path of the bumper and the member 61 and lug 60 of said fran'ie 57 into the path of the inclined end 42 of the slide 40. As the carrier 17 finally approaches the extreme outer position illustrated in Fig. the inclined end 41-2 of the slide 40, which at this stage is locked against downward movement. will engage the member 01 and move it against the tension of its spring 63, as the de scribed movement of the carrier 17 is brought to completion, the bumper 55 will engage the projection 56 and wil accordingly rock thememb'er 52 against the tension of its spring); and in a direction to withdraw he bolt 51 from the recess 50. As the slide eas es is thus released, the inclined end 42 will engage the lug 60 of the upper 59, and in cooperation therewith will force the slide 40 downwardly in its guide 41 and thereby disconnect the hook from the locking latch the member 61 has meanwhile traveled upwardly on said inclined end the position shown in 3 and, by the action of its spring (33 yieldingly maintaii'is the slide 40 in its lower position, in which it rests upon the lugs 47. The position of the parts, at this stage, is illustrated in detail at the left-hand side of Fig. 4.

While the described operations 'c taking place at the left-hand side of the loom with respect to the carrier 17 and its associated elements, the following mechanical changes are taking place at the right-hand side with respect to the carrier 1? and its connecte parts.

The upward shifting of the tripping fume 57 previously reterred to herein,

brings the lower arm 64 into the path oi the lower inclined end 42 ot the slide 40 while at the same time, the projection 56 and the upper arm 59 with its meu'iber G1. are moved upwardly out of the paths of the bumper and the inclined end 42 o said slide 40. Thus as the carrier 17 approaches its outermost posi ion, the lower end 42 of the slide 40 will finally c H e into contact with the bevelled or rounded cor er 6:) of said lower arm 64; as the carrier 1'? completes its movement toward the ri; and finally reaches the position indicated in Fig. 3, said corner 65, in cooperation with said lower inclined end 42, will lift the slide 4O" in its guide 41 until the recess 50 r' isters with the bolt, 51% As soon as this happens, the latter, by the action of the spring 54* upon the member 52, will soon the slide into said recess 50 and thus 40 in its raised position; the h now located in a manner to en, inn-latch 45 as will appear more iuatter.

has passed thrc h the sh d and co 1 in its path or". movement toward the when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 and that a filler thread 39 has been placed in position thereby; during tl... movements, the shuttle 33 has been supported upon the lingers 32 of the carrier 1?. As ,ae mechanism now continues in operation, the carrier 1'? will he mo 0 right, back toward its ex tion shown in Fl 1' movement the cusl ing' force upon cause the shuttle t n 49 will e3:

us return at a pushade 4% and thereby travel back i i opposite direction, said shuttle being; st'

supported upon the lingers 32. At the so. time, the carrier 1'7 will be Slil'ltQfl to leftso that the two carriers gradually up l7 will finally pass between the lower ribs 34 of the shuttle As the carriers 17 and 17 pass toward their extreme inner positions and finally reach the same, as shown in Fig. 4, the inclined cam surface 44 or" the hook 433" will on the lower end of the locking latch 45 and shift the latter upwardly against the tension of its spring 48; this continues until said surface 44 finally passes l'ieyond the locking-latch 45 which under the influence of its spring 48 snaps behind the hook 43 and consequently connects the shuttle positively with the ,rrier 17 shown in Fig 4. As the operation of the mechanism continues and the carriers 17 and 17 are again moved away from each other toward their extreme outer positions, the shuttle 33 will now be drawn along with the carrier 17. Because of the fact that the hook 43 and its associated parts occupy inoperative iositions with respect to the locking-latch 45, the carrier 17 simply moves away from the shuttle 33, whi h at this stage is supported upon the arms 3., of the carriage 17.

ll hen the carriers 1'? and 17 again reach the extreme outer positions, the mechanism is again tripped and the slide 40 is shifted back to an operative position in which the hook 43 is again ready to become coupled to the shuttle 33; coincidentally with this op eration, the slide 40 is operated by the tripping means to release the hook 43 from the locking-latch 45*. The described operations are repeated in mechanical sequence throughout any given period of operation of the loom.

It will be seen that the shuttle 33 is alternately pulled and pushed over its operative paths by the carriers 1'? and 17? and their co-related elements; that is to say, the shuttie is puhsed in a given direction over the first half of its path of movement by one carriage and th n coupled to the other carrian'e which pulls the shuttle over the remainder or las half of said path of movement. The transfer of the shuttle from the control 01": one carriage to that or" the other takes place when the shuttle has reached the centre of a path of movement at which time the carriages occupy their extreme inner positions.

It will be understood that the shuttle 33 passes back and forth through the shed of warp threads 71-72 and that it is positively supported by the carriages throughout its passage through said shed; the construction and arrangement is such that the shuttle travels at a distance above the lower set of warp threads and at a distance below the upper set of such threads. In other words, the shuttle does not any time during its passage through the shed, in either direction, contact with the warp threads; breakage of the latter by engagement with or through the medium of the shuttle is thus entirely avoided.

As previously described, the beater 93 is said shuttle; injury to, or wear upon either the shuttle or the beater is thereby entirely done away with. It will be understood that the harness frames 70 are operated in synchronism with the beater 93 and likewise that these two units function in synchronism with the shuttle 33 so that upon each passageof the shuttle through the shed, the harness is operated to reverse the positions of the two sets of warp threads and the beater is actuated to pack the fill r thread.

In order to automatically stop the operation in case the filler thread 39 breaks, the following arrangement may be provided. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the thread 39 passes from the bobbin 37 beneath a resi1ient finger 107, which is carried by or forms part ofan arm 108, pivoted at 109 upon the shuttle 33. The one end of the arm 108 is provided with a projection 110, movable adjacent to a partition provided on the shuttle and having an aperture 111, the other end 112 of said arm being movable in the slot 113 of a similar partition. Upon opposite ends of the frame 15, slidable rods 114i and 11 1 are mounted, said rods being connected with switch arms 115 and 115 respectively; the latter are pivoted at 116 upon the frame 15 and. each have one end normally in engagement with contact members 117 which form part of an electric circuit 118 which includes also the motor 119 whereby the loom is driven. As shown in Fig. 6 the circuit 118 further includes the switch arms 11 5 and 115.

As long as the thread 39 remains unbroken, the arm 108 will be held in the position shown by solid lines in Fig. 6 in which the rod 114 simply passes through the aperture 111 each time the shuttle 33 reaches its treme left-hand position, while the rod 1141 simply passes above the end 112 of the arm 108 each time the shuttle reaches its extreme right-hand position in Fig. 6. Should the thread 39, however, become broken and the tension thereon consequently released, the arm 108 being overbalanced toward its one end will assume the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. In this position. the projection 110 is located. in registry with the aperture 111, while the end 112 is positioned in the upper portion of the slot 113. If the to move the switch arm 115 to the position indicated by dotted lines in which its end is disconnected from the contact 117 and the electric circuit 118 consequently broken; if,

at the time of the breakage, the shuttle is 7 moving toward the right in Fig. 6, the end 112 of the arm 108 will engage the rod 11 1 and likewise slidably shift the latter to swing the switch arm 115 to the dotted line position in Fig. 6, in which it is disconnected from the contact member 117 and the circuit 118 accordingly is broken. In either case, stoppage of the loom is brought about the moment the shuttle reaches either one of its extreme outer positions so thatdamage resulting from the broken filler vented.

In the form shown in Figs. 8 and. 9, carriages 17 and 17 corresponding to the carriers 17 and 17 a of the first form, are provided and are slidably mounted upon rods 16 which are properly located in the loom. The carriers, as in the first form, areconnected by means of links 20 with rocking arms 18 which may be operated by mechanism similar to that shown in and described with respect to Fig. lot the drawing. The carriages are provided with arms, 32 and 32 respectively arranged in pairs upon said carriages and adapted to alternately support the shuttle 33 in the manner previously described with respect to the arms 32 and 32 of the first form of the invention. In addition to the parts so far described, each carriage is provided i.'espec-tively with a rocking arm 120 and 120 pivoted at 121 and having one end connected at 122 and 122 with slidable members 123 and 123 respectively. Other ends of the arms 1.20 and 120 are pivotally connected with men1- bers 124 and 1241 respectively, said members being provided with a plurality of notches 125 aud125 adapted to be engaged by resilient members 126 and 126 to maintain the members 1241 and 124 in. adjusted positions, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The carriers are further provided respectively with coupling hooks 13 and 13 adapted for engagement with the ends 47 and 47 of a locking latch in the form of a pivoted lever 45 fulcrumed at 45 upon the shuttle 33 as shown in Fig. 8. The lever 45 is provided at its opposite ends with inclined surfaces 127 and 127 adapted to cooperate respectively with correspondingly inclined ends 128 and 128 of the inen'ibers 1261 and 124*. At a central point, the loom is provided with a rocking member 129 pivoted at 130 and connected by means of a thread is pre- 7 pitman 131 with an eccentric 132 mounted upon a driven shaft which may be either of the shafts 23 or 26 or any other suitable shaft in the machine.

Assuming the parts to be in the position indicated in Fig. 8 and the loom to be in operation, the shuttle will be drawn toward the left, because the hook 43" is in connection with the end 4&7 ot the locking latch 17". The latter is held in enga ement with the hook 13" by reason of the "fact that the inclined end 128 of the member 12% is in positive engagen'ient with the inclined surface 127 of the locking latch. At this stage, the end 44? of the locking latch is above and consequently disengaged. from the hook ll, so that'the carrier 17 inter-poses no interference to this movement of the shuttle by the carrier 17. The connection between the shuttle and the carrier 17 through the niediinn oi"? the hook 413" and the end 1 is imiintained throughout the return movement of the shuttle toward the right, in this case until the carriers reach their extreme inne' positions. By the time this point in the operation of the machine is reached, the member 129 will have been rocked to a position opposite to that in which it is illustrated in Fig 8. v This change in the position of the member 129 brings its one end into the lath of the rod 12?). Thus. as the carriers approach said extreme inner positions, the member 125) will engage the rod 123 and force it to the right in Fig. 8, thereby swinging the rocking arm 120 upon its pivot and shifting the member 121 to the left, said member 124C being held in this adjusted position by the member 126, in cooperation with the second notch 125. As this moven'ient of the member 12 1 takes place, its inclined end 128 will exert a calming effect upon the inclined end 122" ot the locking latch 45" and will force the end 4. thereoi downwardly into locking engagement with the hook 13 At the same time, the end 47 ot the locking latch 45 will be moved out of connection with the hook 423"; as this disconnection of the end 47" from the hook 13 takes place, the inclined end 127 will exert a can'nning action upon the inclined end 128 and consequently will, 1* rec the member 12% toward the left in Fig. 8. This will rock the arm 120 113011 its pivot and will shift the rod 123- toward the right and back to position ready to be engaged by the member 129 at the proper time. As the operation of the loom now continues, the shuttle will be drawn to the right by the carrier 17 until itreaches its extreme outer position and will then be shifted back to the position shown in Fig. 8, where it becomes disconnected from the carrier 17 and connected with the carrier 17 in the manner set forth. In Fig. 11 the carriers 17 and 17 which correspond to the carriages previously referred to and which likewise are reciprocated from extreme inner positions to extreme outer positions in the manner previously set forth, are pro *ided with electroniagnets 133 and 133 respectively. The electron'iagnets are connected by electric circuits 134- and 13 1 with contact members 135 and 135, which cooperate with a rotary switch member 136 electrically connected with a z'attery 137 which terms part of circuits lu-iand 13 1. The carriers 17 and 17 are also provider. with fingers 32- and 32 arranged in pairs and adapted to alternately support the shuttle 33" which may be provided with external flanges 34: as in the first form. it will be understood that the shuttle 3 3" constructed in a manner to properly cooperate with electromagnets 133 and 133.

As the carriers reach their extreme inner 1)()Slilf)ll.:l, .s illustrated in Fig. 11, the switch n'iesnber 1.6 will have reached position in which one of the circuits 13% or 134 is closed; in the illustration in Fig. 11, the circuit 131- is the active one, so that theelcctroniagi'iets 133 are electrically energized and consequently are in magnetic engagement with the shuttle 33 As the operation of the loom now continues, the shuttle will be drawn to "ard the le'tt in Fig. 11. by the action of the carrier 1'? and the coupling connect between said shuttle and the eied tron'iagnets 133; this connection is mainiFZtillGtl. until the carriers are back again in their extreme inner positions whereupon the switch incin will have reached the position in which the circuit 184 is closed, the circuit 13 at the same time being broken. The electroniagnets 133 now become energized and consequently are in magnetic connection with the shuttle 33", which as a result drawn toward the right as the carriers 1?" and 17 again more toward their extreme outer positions.

in the two forms illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, a positive connection is maintained between the shuttle and the actuating mech anism, through the entire operative paths of said shuttle. That is to say, throughout half of a given path in one direction and a half of a given path in the return direction, the shuttle is in positive connection with one carrier and throughout the other half of said paths, is in positive connection with the other carrier. The shuttle is thus positively controlled throughout its entire range of movement and consequently is uniformly moved and is free from undesirable variations in speed and at the same time is positively maintained in its intended paths.

in the form shown in Figs. 12 to 1G inclusive, the carriers 17 and 17 which correspond to the carriers the forms previously described, are mounted for inverse reciprocation and accordingly may be connecte'd by means of links 20 with rocking arms 18, the latter being actuated by mecha- 32 and 32* which project from frames 138 preferably constructed of metallic rods in the form of truss-work as shown in Figs. 12 and 13; the frames in turn are supported by brackets 139 projecting upwardly from the carriers 17 and 1.75 as shown in Fig. 13.

The arms 32 and 52 are arranged in pairs in vertically spaced. parallelism on each carrier and are constructed in the form of webs adapted to fit into grooves 34 and 34" respectively, said grooves extending lengthwise of the shuttle 53) at the top and bottom thereof. As shown in Fig. 12, the grooves 34" and 34 of each pair are located in spaced relation. to each other and in registry with the webs or arms 32 and 32 respectively; the latter are accordingly in oft-set relation to each other when viewed as in Fig. 12. At their inner ends, the arms 32 and 32* are provided with converging shields 140 which may be constructed of rods and braced by means of rods 141 as shown in F 12 and are located in othset relation 90 as to extend along opposite sides of the shuttle 33 as illustrated in Fig. 12. These shields 140 connect the free ends of the armsot each pair and close the space between the same at the inner ends thereof as shown in F ig. 13, without however intertering with the proper cooperation of the arms 32 and 32 with the grooves 34" and 34" in the desired manner.

In the form now being described, the

nieans whereby the carriers 17 and 17 are successively connected with and disconnected t'rom the shuttle 33 comprises levers 142 and 142 pivoted at 143 respectively upon the upper arms 32 and 32 of each pair as shown in Fig. 14. levers 142 and. 142 are provided with hooks 144 and 1.44" respectively and with continuin}: cam projections 145 and 145 as illustrated in Fig. 14; at their outer ends, the levers 142 and 142 are bent to form lugs 146 and 146 which by engagement with overhanging members 147 and 1.47 respectively, prevent the hooked ends of the levers 142 and 142 from dropping into inoperative positions. The members 147 and. 147 are carried. respectively by the upper arms 32 and 32' of each pair and are arranged so as to overlap each other in the innermost position of the carriers as shown in Fig. 14.

The hooks 144 and 144 are adapted to successively cooperate with a recess 148 located at an intermediate point of the shuttle At their inner ends, these unintentional disconnection of, the hooks.

from said recess, springs 149 may be pro: vided which press yieldmgly against said levers as shown in Fig. 14; these springs'149 serve also to assist the hooks 144'and 144 into the recess 148. Cushions 150 are pro vided at the pro Jer points on the carriers for engagement with the ends of the shuttle 33 to properly position the same upon the arms 32 and 32 as shown in Fig. 14.

In operation the carriers 17 and 17 are inversely reciprocated as in the previous forms and are alternately connected with the shuttle 33 by engagement of the hooks 144 and 144" with the recess 148. As the carriers are thus operated the shields 140 thereoi. will enter the shed ot' warp threads first and by reason of the fact that they close the deflect any threads or threads of the shed which may be in the paths of the arms and will cause the same to pass over these elements without becoming entangled therewith. As the carriers approach each other and finally reach their innermost position one of the levers 142 or 142 will automatically disconnect the other lever from the recess 148. Thus as the carriers for instance, move toward each other with the hook 144 ot' the lever 142 in engagement with the recess 148, the projection 145 of the lever 142 will finally reach a position beneath the projection 145 oi. the lever 142; as: the operation of the mechanism continues the projection 145 willride upon the incline 146 and thereby will lift the hook 144. out of the recess 148 and as the movements continue, the hook 144 will drop into the recess 148. In this way, the shuttle 82-3 is disconnected from one carrier and connected with the other, these operations taking place automatically at the of the other without interference and vice versa.

In the form shown in Fig. 16, the shields and 140 project along the one side of ilk the shuttle -3 and are arranged to properly pass each other without interference, in the innermost positions of the carriers. Otherwise this arrangement of the invention may be the same as the form illustrated in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive.

The loom in its entirety is constructed and arranged to operate with amaximum of elliciency and to reduce the danger of losses due to breakage or other causes necessitating shut downs, to a minimum.

Various changes; in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1. A shuttle shifting and carrying mechanism for looms, comprising a pair of longitudinally movable carriers, means for inversely reciprocating the carriers in a continuous manner, a pair of fingers carried by each carrier, the fingers of one carrier being disposed in a plane different from that in which the fingers of the other carrier are located, a shuttle, guide means upon said shuttle adapted to receive the lingers of each of the carriers simultaneously, and means whereby upon each completion of one of the strokes of said carriers the shuttle will be transferred from the fingers of one carrier to the fingers of the other. 7

2. A shuttle shifting and carrying mechanism for looms, comprising a. pair of longitudinally movable carriers, means for inversely reciprocating the carriers in a continuous manner, a pair of fingers carried by each carrier, the fingers of one carrier being disposed above in a plane different from that in which the fingers of the other carrier are located, a shuttle, guide means upon said shuttle adapted to receive the fingers of each of the carriers simultaneously and latch means carried by each of said carriers whereby the shuttle .will be shifted from the fingers of one carrier to the fingers of the other upon each completion of one of the strokes of said carriers.

3. A shuttle shifting and carrying mechanism for looms, comprising a pair of longitudinally movable carriers, means for inversely reciprocating the carriers in a continuous manner, a pair of fingers carried by each carrier, the fingers of one carrier being disposed above the fingers of the other, a shuttle, guide means upon said shuttle adapted to receive the fingers of each of the carriers simultaneously, latch means carried by each of said carriers whereby the shuttle will be shifted from the fingers of one carrier to the fingers of the other upon each completion of the inward stroke of said carriers, and means whereby the mechanism for operating the latches and means for reciprocating the carriers may be actuated from a single motive power.

4. In a shuttle transferring mechanism of the kind described, a pair of inversely reciprocal shuttle carriers each provided with a pair of fingers, the fingers on one carrier being out of alignment with the fingers of the other carrier, and a shuttle provided with guide means adapted to receive the fingers of each of the carriers simultaneously, whereby said shuttle is received and supported alternately in sequence by the fingers of each carrier.

5. In a loom, the combination of guiding means occupying a fixed location in said loom, a pair of carriers inversely reciprocable on said guiding means, a travelling shuttle, a pair of fingers on each 01' said carriers for receiving and carrying the shuttle, the fingers of said carriers being located in different planes and arranged to overlap in the innermost position of the carriers and mechanism for operating the latter.

6. A loom comprising harness whereby a shed of warp threads is provided, a travelling shuttle, supporting means for carrying said shuttle back and forth through said shed, and shields combined with said supporting means for preventing entanglement of the warp threads with said supporting means, the. shields projecting in opposite directions and being out of alignment with each other,

7. A loom comprising a stationary sup port, mechanism whereby a shed of warp threads is provided, a travelling shuttle, guiding means on said support, a pair of carriers inversely reciprocable on said guiding means to and from a meeting point for passing said shuttle through said shed, and tapering shields. mounted on said carriers for preventing entanglement of said warp threads with said carriers and with the shuttle when carried thereby, said shields projecting toward each other in off-set relation and being arranged to overlap when said carriers are at said meeting point.

8. A loom comprising a stationary support, mechanism whereby a shed of warp threads is provided, a travelling shuttle provided with grooves along its upper and lower f ces, guiding devices on said support extending over the operative paths of said shuttle, a pair of carriers arranged to be inversely reciprocated upon said guiding devices, arms carried by said carriers and adapted to project into the grooves of said shuttle for-supporting the same alternately on said carriers whereby said shuttle is passed through said shed out of contact with said warp threads, coupling means on said carriages whereby said shuttle is alternately coupled to each of said carriers in the innermost position thereof and shields carried by said arms for preventing entanglement of the warp threads therewith.

9. A loom comprising a. stationary support, mechanism whereby a shed of warp threads is provided, a travelling shuttle, provided with grooves along its upper and lower faces and having a recess at an intermediate point, guiding devices on said support extending over the operative paths of said shuttle, a pair of carriers arranged to be inversely reciprocated upon said guiding devices for passing said shuttle through said shed, arms arranged in pairs on each carrier and spaced apart in vertical directions, said arms being arranged to extend into said grooves to support the shuttle alternately on said carriers, pivoted levers on said carriers adapted to enter said recess for connecting said shuttle alternately with said carriers projections on said levers whereby the latter are alternately operated to shift the connected lever out of engagemeat with said recess whereby the shuttle is disconnected from one lever and connected with the other when the carriers reach their innermost positions, and shields located in oil-set relation at the. inner ends of said arms and closing the spaces therebetween against the entry of any of said warp threads.

10. A loom comprising a stationary support, mechanism whereby a shed of warp threads is provided, a shuttle provided with grooves located in pairs upon its upper and lower faces, a pair of carriers arranged to be inversely reciprocated upon said support, arms mounted upon said carriers in pairs and adapted to enter said pairs of grooves to support said shuttle and carry it through said shed, means whereby said shuttle is connected with and disconnected from said carriers and transferred from one carrier to the other and shields projecting from the inner ends of said arms in offset relation thereto and arranged to close the space be tween each pair of arms against the en trance of warp threads.

11. A loom comprising a stationary sup port, mechanism whereby a shed of warp threads provided, a shuttle provided with grooves located in pairs upon its upper and lower faces, and having a. recess at an intermediate point, a pair of carriers arranged to be inversely reciprocated upon said sup port, trussed frames mounted upon said carriers, arms projecting from said frames in pairs and arranged to extend into said grooves of the shuttle for supporting the latter, shields forming continuations of said arms in oil-set relation thereto and closing the space between each pair of arms against the entrance of warp threads, levers mounted on said arms and having hooked ends arranged to enter said recess for con necting the shuttle with said arms, a cam projection on each arm adapted to lift the other arm, in the innermost positions of said carriers, to disconnect the hooked end of one lever from the recess and to connect the hooked end of the other lever therewith and members carried by said arms and cooperating with said levers to prevent the hooked ends of the latter from dropping to tapering ends projecting from said fingers in directions towardeach other and being off-set relatively to the fingers whereby they are supported, said shields being out of alignment with each other and extending lengthwise of the shuttle at opposite sides and ends thereof in alternate sequence whereby entanglement of the warp threads with said carriers and with the shuttle when carried thereby is prevented.

13. In a loom, the combination of a shuttle, a pair of carriers arranged to be reciprocated in a common path toward and away from each other, supporting fingers projecting toward each other on said carriers in cooperating pairs, means on said shuttle adapted to establish a supporting relation alternately with each pairof fingers, the lat-- ter having operative lengths extending over major portions of the axial length of said shuttle whereby the latter is supported at a fixed level against tilting out of its path of travel, each pair of fingers being off-set with respect to and capable of overlapping the other pair when said carriers are at their meeting point and transferring whereby said shuttle is automatically transferred from the fingers of one carrier to the fingers of the other carrier and vice versa at the aforesaid, meeting point.

14. In a loom, the combination of aishuttle having grooves extending lengthwise thereof in oif-s'et pairs, a pair of carriers arnnged to be reciprocated toward and away from each other, fingers on said carriers arranged in cooperating pairs, each pair being oif-set with respect to the other pair and being arranged to enter the cooperating shuttle grooves for supporting said shuttler alternately on said carriers, said fingers having axial lengths sufficient to cause them to project into said grooves beyond the transverse centers thereof whereby said shuttle is supported at a fixed level against tilting out of its path of travel and transferring means whereby said shuttle is automatically transferred from the fingers of one carrier to the fingers of the other carrier and vice vers'a at the meeting point of said carriers.

15. In a loom, the combination of a shuttle having grooves extending lengthwise thereof in oft-set pairs, a pair of carriers arranged to be reciprocated in a common path toward and away from each other, lingers on said carriers arranged in cooperating pairs, each pair being off-set with respectto the other pair and being arranged to enter the cooperating shuttle grooves for supporting said shuttle alternately on said carriers, said fingers having axial lengths sutficient to cause them to project into said grooves beyond the transverse centers thereof whereby said shuttle is supported at a fixed level against tilting out of its path of travel, lugs fixed on said shuttle, and latching members adapted to alternately engage said lugs and to be operated one by the other and released from said lugs at the meeting point of said carriers whereby said shuttle is automatically transferred from one carrier to the other and vice versa at the aforesaid meeting point.

16. In a loom, the combination of a shuttle having grooves extending lengthwise thereof in olf-set palrs, a pair of carriers arranged to be reoiprocated in a common path toward and away from each other, lingers on said carriers arranged in cooperating pairs, each pair being off-set with respect to the other pair and being arranged to enter the cooperating shuttle grooves for supporting said shuttle alternately on said carriers, said fingers having axial lengths suflicient to cause them to project into said grooves beyond the transverse centers thereof whereby said shuttle is supported at a fixed level against tilting out of its path of travel, lugs fixed on said shuttle, latching members adapted to alternately ensaid lugs and to be operated one by the other and released from said lugs at the meeting point of said carriers whereby said shuttle is automatically transferred from one carrier to the other and vice versa at the aforesaid meeting point, and shields extending beyond the fingers to prevent entanglement with the warp threads.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JONATHAN LUCAS. 

